When we put the seed in the soil and water it, it splits into two halves and a root out of it goes downward and a delicate bud goes upward. The root remains fed from the two cotyledons until it is able to absorb its food from the soil and when it becomes an integrated plant it absorbs the elements it needs and not others. Allah (swt) says:

وَفِي الْأَرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُّتَجَاوِرَاتٌ وَجَنَّاتٌ مِّنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَزَرْعٌ وَنَخِيلٌ صِنْوَانٌ وَغَيْرُ صِنْوَانٍ يُسْقَىٰ بِمَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِي الْأُكُلِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَۖ

(And within the land are neighboring plots and gardens of grapevines and crops and palm trees, [growing] several from a root or otherwise, watered with one water; but We make some of them exceed others in [quality of] fruit. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason..) (Ar-Ra’d: 4)

Thus, the Holy Qur’an is addressing the minds, so that it says: “it is watered with one water” because water dissolves all the elements. But who teaches the plant which elements to be absorbed and which are to be left!? Does it have a brain to think and to choose?! Of course not. The One who teaches the plant is:

{ الَّذِي أَعْطَىٰ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلْقَهُ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰۖ}

(He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it]..) (Taha: 50)

This is of Allah’s ability, as the plant absorbs beneficial substances and leaves harmful ones. This process is done with infinite precision that even the owners of thoughtful minds cannot perform. So how can plants do this? This is one of the aspects of this verse:

 وَالَّذِي قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ

(And who destined and [then] guided (3))

Another example about this verse: If a tree is unwatered and the soil dries beneath it, the tree feels a danger, consequently, it dispenses with matters for the most important ones; it makes its leaves fall first to provide food for the stem and branches, then sacrifices the branches for the sake of stem, then sacrifices the stem for the sake of roots, and as long as the root is intact, then any chance of water comes after that, it can regain strength and recover and germination returns.

As such process is found in humans without any of their intentions. Allah (swt) does not prevent His bestowments from the humans in the matters that man has no ability to do them. To explain, food compensates the heat and the energy spent in movement, then it builds cells and muscles, and then stores the excess in a form of fat. If a person is prevented from food, he nourishes himself through self-food from stored and accumulated fats. The strange thing is that fat is one substance, but when it decomposes to nourish the body, it turns into all the nutrients that the body needs. If the fat runs out, the body moves to take food from the muscles and then from the bones as if the body sacrifices all that it possesses for the survival of the brain and mind like a tree that sacrifices all its parts for the sake of roots.

These actions are done in humans’ bodies without their knowing or managing, they are done by one law, which is:

 وَالَّذِي قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ

(And who destined and [then] guided (3))

Modern science has reached a lot of discoveries that indicate the signs of creation.  The Head of New York Academy of Sciences has mentioned them in his book which talks in general about the meaning of:

 وَالَّذِي قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ

(And who destined and [then] guided (3))

In this book there is a mention about the wonders of the bees and ants’ kingdoms. As such, the beehive is subjected to very precise engineering standards. Such as, the maid has a special room, the males have private rooms, and the queen has a private room as well and each of them has a food suitable for the task they perform.

If we put a piece of sugar or dates in a place where there are no ants, then, after a short time we find that a group of ants come and walk around this piece while doing nothing, just exploring. After that, a group of ants come to carry the piece to the beehive. It is noticed that if this piece is bigger, the group of ants would be bigger.

If we also contemplate the falcon and the power of its vision that surpasses modern tools and the hoopoe bird that can see what is there under the ground and extracts its food from it, it never eats from the surface of the earth.

Throughout the story of the prophet Sulayman (Peace be upon him) we notice the accuracy of the Quranic expression. What attracted the hoopoe bird’s attention of Allah’s power is:

  {يُخْرِجُ الْخَبْءَ }

(brings forth what is hidden.) (An-Naml: 25)

This is the power of the hoopoe bird which Allah (swt) has willed for it, so it talks about what concerns him.

This alerts every person with reason and intellect that during his trip to Allah (swt), his walking towards Him is either by the favours of Allah (swt) himself or by virtues that Allah (swt) has bestowed upon man.

Hence, the Ihsan (kind treatment) and the bestowments of Allah (swt) are all signs and aspects that have to be ponder upon by the intellectual man to avoid arrogance with his abilities.